Slovenians have a sweet tooth and desserts are an important part of Slovenian life. That’s why there are always plenty of options to choose from! The most popular is the layered cheesecake, called Prekmurska gibanica and could easily give the New York Cheesecake a run for its money.
Today, you’re really in for a treat, as we’ll be going through the best and most yummy Slovenian desserts that will have you wanting to pack your bags and fly over for a visit immediately. Let’s get started!
Table Of Contents
Most Popular Slovenian Desserts
Slovenian food is a big part of their culture. In Slovenia, you can’t eat dinner and not treat yourself to a lovely dessert after. So, without further ado, here’s a list of the most popular ones that you don’t wanna miss out on the next time you’re traveling in Slovenia!
1. Prekmurje Layered Cake – Prekmurska Gibanica
Prekmurska gibanica is a famous Slovenian dessert from the region of Prekmurje. It’s a layered cake with filo dough, filled with sweet goodies like poppy seeds, walnuts, apples, raisins, and cottage cheese. Topped with sour cream, it’s a delightful mix of sweet and savory flavors that everyone in Slovenia loves.
2. Nut Roll – Potica
It’s very common to prepare certain dishes during holidays like Christmas and Easter. A famous one you’ll find in Slovenian households is the potica, also called pogača in some regions.
And what is it made of? It’s a dough rolled around a walnut filling, making a roulade-like shape. It can be moist or dry and include rum-soaked raisins. Other than that, it can have so many different options as fillings — tarragon, walnuts, cracknels, and poppy seeds, among others.
3. Bled Cream Cake – Kremšnita Or Kremna Rezina
You’ll find the kremšnita all over Slovenia, but it’s especially typical if you’re visiting Lake Bled. It’s a very decadent cream slice made from several layers of deliciousness. Its base is a golden, buttery puff pastry topped up with vanilla custard, whipped cream, and sometimes chocolate on top.
4. Donuts – Krofi
Everyone loves donuts, but Slovenians created their own special variations. They don’t have holes in the middle, like traditional donuts. Instead, they enjoy them with chocolate or apricot jam fillings, and some have a coating of chocolate or sugar shavings.
If you’re driving through Slovenia, don’t forget to stop at Trojane, where a famous shop is especially known for its donuts. It’s also a delicious dessert prepared every year during Kurentovanje festival in Slovenia.
5. Sweet Dumplings – Sladki Štruklji
Štruklji are popular dumplings from Slovenia that come in sweet and savory versions. They’re like rolled-up tubes and can be baked or boiled. The basic ones are filled with cheese and sometimes have sugar and raisins. They’re topped with fried breadcrumbs and honey. You can find them in almost any restaurant or mountain hut in Slovenia.
6. Strudel – Štrudelj Or Jabolčni Zavitek
I personally can’t imagine a nice family gathering without my grandma’s apple strudel. Of course, you’ll find this dessert prepared especially during apple harvest.
It’s made with a rolled-out dough and then filled with grated apples. You can also add certain spices. Slovenians like to enjoy other flavors of strudel as well, like cherries for example.
How Do You Say Dessert In Slovenian?
The word for dessert in Slovenian is sladica. It implies that the food is sweet, as the word for sugar is sladkor. You’ll see this word on the menu at Slovenian restaurants.
Slovenian Vocabulary Related To Desserts
I’m sure that just reading about these Slovenian desserts has you wanting to make one of them at home. Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered with some Slovenian vocabulary for making desserts to make sure you make it just right.
If you’re keen on learning Slovenian, why not give the Ling app a try? It’s a great tool for those looking to learn languages in a fun way.
| English | Slovenian |
|---|---|
| Cake | Torta |
| Pastry | Pecivo |
| Pastry/Cake | Kolač |
| Pie | Pita |
| Cookies | Piškoti |
| Ice cream | Sladoled |
| Cream | Krema |
| Pudding | Puding |
| Chocolate | Čokolada |
| Fruit | Sadje |
| Jam | Marmelada |
| Whipped cream | Stepena smetana |
| Sweet cream | Sladka smetana |
| Caramel | Karamela |
Frequently Asked Questions About Slovenian Desserts And Food
What Is The National Dessert Of Slovenia?
Among those mentioned, prekmurska gibanica is considered a Slovenian culinary specialty. In fact, it’s recognized as a Traditional Speciality Guaranteed in Europe.
Is The Food Good In Slovenia?
Slovenian cuisine is heaven for foodies. The reason the food is good is because of Slovenia’s deep connection to its land. Think of hearty stews, savory meat dishes, wholesome grains, and fresh salads. It’s this genuine connection between people, food, and the environment that makes Slovenian cuisine so very satisfying.
What Is A Famous Dish In Slovenia?
The Carniolan sausage, or kranjska klobasa, is a symbol of Slovenian food culture, with roots dating back to the early 19th century. Made from top-quality pork and hard bacon, and seasoned with garlic, salt, and pepper, it makes for the most famous Slovenian dish!
You can enjoy it with hot with sauerkraut or cold with bread and mustard. It’s not just your typical sausage, as it can also enhance the flavors of other dishes and stews. It even has a protected status, being recognized under geographical indication laws, and stands as a proud symbol of cultural heritage for Slovenians.
Is Your Mouth Watering Yet?
As you can see, just by trying out different Slovenian desserts, you can already get an insight into the country’s rich culinary heritage. Some of the desserts we’ve covered today also highlight the importance of using local ingredients to create these savory delights.
I hope the information and vocabulary provided today have brought you a bit closer to the Slovenian country. Hopefully, you’ll think of this next time you’re strolling the streets of Bled or Ljubljana, and give one of these desserts a try!
